Paige VanZant is used to being in the spotlight — from her days as a fierce UFC fighter to her bold moves in the bare-knuckle boxing world. But recently, the internet has been buzzing for a different reason. This time, it’s not about her punches — it’s about her pictures.
Social media, Reddit threads, and entertainment news sites have lit up after VanZant posted a series of nude or semi-nude photos. These images weren’t leaked or stolen. Instead, they were shared by VanZant herself — either through her official social media accounts or on her subscription-based OnlyFans-style platforms, where she’s gained a massive following in recent years.
But what’s really going on here? Is it just another celebrity sharing provocative content, or is there more behind Paige VanZant’s bold approach? Here’s everything you need to know — explained simply and clearly.
To understand why this is such a big deal, let’s rewind a bit.
Paige VanZant, now 30, became widely known through her time in the UFC. She debuted in 2014 at just 20 years old, quickly gaining attention not only for her skills in the octagon but also for her looks and charm. She wasn’t just a fighter — she was a brand.
VanZant’s popularity continued to grow as she competed in the UFC’s strawweight and flyweight divisions. Even when she lost fights, fans stayed loyal. Many admired her toughness. Others loved her energy and personality. She even appeared on Dancing with the Stars in 2016, finishing as a runner-up.
But injuries and tough matchups slowed her UFC career. After her contract ended in 2020, she made a surprising move: signing with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). That shift showed fans she wasn’t afraid to take risks — and that mindset has followed her into her online career.
After her MMA and bare-knuckle fighting run, VanZant began building a different kind of business — one based on digital content and personal branding.
In 2021, she launched her own exclusive content site, similar to OnlyFans, where fans could pay to see private photos and videos. Some of that content included swimsuit shots, lingerie photos, and artistic nude images — often teased on Instagram or Twitter before being posted in full behind a paywall.
Later, she officially joined OnlyFans, one of the most popular adult-content platforms. This move earned her massive attention — and big money. She’s openly shared that her online content business has been more profitable than her entire MMA career.
She told The Sun in a 2022 interview, “I’ve made way more money through content than I ever did fighting.” This honesty surprised some fans, but others applauded her for taking control of her image — and her income.
The buzz around VanZant’s most recent “naked” photos seems to come from how confidently she’s sharing them — and how direct she’s being about it.
In late March and early April 2025, VanZant posted several images that left little to the imagination. Some were completely nude, though posed in tasteful or artistic ways. She shared previews on her Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), with links leading fans to her paid content pages.
One of her posts read: “No filter. No fear. Just me.” Attached was a black-and-white nude photo of her in a nature setting. It was met with thousands of likes and comments — some praising her courage, others criticizing the direction she’s taken.
This has reignited a public debate: Is Paige VanZant empowering herself, or is she overexposing her brand?
Fan reaction has been mixed — but passionate.
Supporters say VanZant is doing what makes her happy and profitable. “She’s owning her image. If men can make money off their names forever, why can’t she?” one Instagram user wrote.
Others feel she’s gone too far from her roots as an athlete. “I followed her for the fights, not for the photos,” another fan posted on Reddit. “It’s cool she’s making money, but this isn’t what I signed up for.”
Some fellow fighters have also weighed in. UFC veteran and commentator Michael Bisping recently said on his podcast, “She’s smart. People want to judge, but she’s making more than most fighters ever will. She figured it out.”
Paige herself seems unbothered by the noise. In a recent story post, she wrote, “I do what makes me feel good. No shame. No regrets.”
The discussion around VanZant’s nude content also touches on broader issues — like body confidence, women’s freedom to express themselves, and the ongoing shift in how athletes make money.
More female athletes, models, and celebrities are joining platforms like OnlyFans. Some do it for empowerment. Others treat it purely as a business opportunity. For VanZant, it seems to be both.
She’s talked openly about body image struggles in the past. In her 2018 book, Rise: Surviving the Fight of My Life, she described being bullied as a teen and struggling with confidence.
Today, it’s clear she’s in a very different place. “I’ve never felt more in control,” she said during an Instagram live session last month. “Fighting taught me to be strong. This taught me to be free.”
Right now, VanZant seems focused on expanding her brand outside the cage. She hasn’t fought since her BKFC match in 2021, and there’s no confirmed return date.
Instead, she’s been growing her content platform, launching merch, appearing at fan expos, and even teasing possible acting roles. In February 2025, she hinted on X that she was “in talks” for a TV appearance, but didn’t offer more details.
Her husband, Austin Vanderford — also a professional MMA fighter — has supported her all along. He occasionally appears in her posts and interviews, showing that her personal life remains stable even as her public image evolves.
The story of Paige VanZant’s “naked” photo trend isn’t just about photos. It’s about how athletes today are breaking old rules, creating their own careers, and doing things on their own terms.
Whether you admire her, disagree with her choices, or just find it all surprising, one thing’s clear: Paige VanZant is still fighting — just not in the octagon anymore. Now, her battleground is the internet, and her weapon is confidence.
As more athletes enter the world of digital content, VanZant’s journey might just be the beginning of a much bigger trend.
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